Social and health status of arrivals in a French prison: a consecutive case study from 1989 to 1995. Duhamel, A, Renard, J M, Nuttens, M C, Devos, P, Beuscart, R, & Archer, E Revue d'épidémiologie et de santé publique, 49(3):229–238, June, 2001.
Social and health status of arrivals in a French prison: a consecutive case study from 1989 to 1995 [link]Paper  abstract   bibtex   
BACKGROUND To assess the demographic, socioeconomic and health status of male arrivals in French jails and to analyze the time trends of these characteristics. METHODS The study was carried out in a prison for detained persons and short term prisoners. Using a standardized questionnaire, we recorded the characteristics of all male detainees and prisoners arriving in the prison between 1989 and 1995. The information collected concerned: demographic data, level of education and professional status, reasons for detention or imprisonment, social and family background, lifestyle, medical and psychiatric history, suicide attempts and illicit use of drugs. The characteristics of the study population were compared with those found in the general regional population. We analyzed developing trends in the health status of the prison population as well as their socio-economic profile over a period of seven years (1989 to 1995). RESULTS A total of 14,785 questionnaires were analyzed. Of the study population, 56% had no professional qualification, and 62% was unemployed. About two-thirds of the inmates presented psychiatric problems or problems with illicit drug use (one or several drugs). Amongst these, 70% had not had any form of care -neither therapeutic nor educational- before their arrival in prison. Between 1989 and 1995, the proportion of drug users increased by 30%. A parallel increase was observed in the level of unemployment and in the frequency of mental problems. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest a need for therapeutic and educational care to be provided for prison inmates. This poses a problem which needs to be addressed in terms of public health. The study also illustrates the usefulness of a standardised questionnaire for each arrival. The systematic use of such a tool would make it possible to identify inmates'needs and to propose adapted care solutions.
@article{duhamel_social_2001,
	title = {Social and health status of arrivals in a {French} prison: a consecutive case study from 1989 to 1995},
	volume = {49},
	issn = {0398-7620},
	shorttitle = {Social and health status of arrivals in a {French} prison},
	url = {http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11427826},
	abstract = {BACKGROUND

To assess the demographic, socioeconomic and health status of male arrivals in French jails and to analyze the time trends of these characteristics.


METHODS

The study was carried out in a prison for detained persons and short term prisoners. Using a standardized questionnaire, we recorded the characteristics of all male detainees and prisoners arriving in the prison between 1989 and 1995. The information collected concerned: demographic data, level of education and professional status, reasons for detention or imprisonment, social and family background, lifestyle, medical and psychiatric history, suicide attempts and illicit use of drugs. The characteristics of the study population were compared with those found in the general regional population. We analyzed developing trends in the health status of the prison population as well as their socio-economic profile over a period of seven years (1989 to 1995).


RESULTS

A total of 14,785 questionnaires were analyzed. Of the study population, 56\% had no professional qualification, and 62\% was unemployed. About two-thirds of the inmates presented psychiatric problems or problems with illicit drug use (one or several drugs). Amongst these, 70\% had not had any form of care -neither therapeutic nor educational- before their arrival in prison. Between 1989 and 1995, the proportion of drug users increased by 30\%. A parallel increase was observed in the level of unemployment and in the frequency of mental problems.


CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest a need for therapeutic and educational care to be provided for prison inmates. This poses a problem which needs to be addressed in terms of public health. The study also illustrates the usefulness of a standardised questionnaire for each arrival. The systematic use of such a tool would make it possible to identify inmates'needs and to propose adapted care solutions.},
	number = {3},
	urldate = {2012-05-10},
	journal = {Revue d'épidémiologie et de santé publique},
	author = {Duhamel, A and Renard, J M and Nuttens, M C and Devos, P and Beuscart, R and Archer, E},
	month = jun,
	year = {2001},
	pmid = {11427826},
	keywords = {*Health Status, Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Crime, Crime/statistics \& numerical data/trends, Educational Status, Family, Family/psychology, France, France/epidemiology, Health Status, Health Surveys, Humans, Interview, Psychological, Life Style, Male, Marital Status, Marital Status/statistics \& numerical data, Mental Disorders, Mental Disorders/diagnosis/epidemiology, Middle Aged, Needs Assessment, Occupations, Occupations/statistics \& numerical data, Prisoners, Prisoners/education/psychology/*statistics \& numerical data, Questionnaires, Risk Factors, Socioeconomic Factors, Substance-Related Disorders, Substance-Related Disorders/epidemiology, Suicide, Attempted, Suicide, Attempted/statistics \& numerical data, Surveys and Questionnaires},
	pages = {229--238},
}
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